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How crucial is running Android before Sailfish install?

asked 2018-10-04 15:34:11 +0300

depscribe gravatar image

updated 2018-10-05 10:08:50 +0300

jiit gravatar image

The Post Office tells me that after a long wait my Xperia X will arrive today, and it's my plan to immediately back it up, upgrade Android if necessary over wifi, do the things necessary, and install SFOS on it. In looking at the instructions, I was a little alarmed to find this:

"IMPORTANT – Do not skip this step

"Use your Xperia X some time with Android OS. Check that phone calls can be made and received, that you can browse the Internet with a mobile data connection (turn WLAN off) and that the camera works. You might also want to check the touch display, loudspeaker and microphone.. Use the same SIM card as will be used with Sailfish X."

Is this solely to determine that the phone works, or does something else happen without which Sailfish OS won't properly install? The whole purpose of the exercise, for me, is to avoid running Android with the SIM card installed, so as to minimize the data that are harvested. It is my plan to put in the SIM card only after I've installed SFOS, Yalp (for the ProtonMail application, alas) and set up my VPN. But that gets confounded if I have to go around making calls on Android before I can do any of it.

So how important is "IMPORTANT"?

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I'm writing this as a comment rather than an answer because I'm not sure if this info is still valid. But: Back in the days when I installes SFOS on My Xperia X it was important at least to update Android to the latest version. I remember that because it took ages. Only the most recent version of Android for the Xperia supported the easy route of installation recommended by Jolla. If this is still the case you'll have to keep it switched on and "use" it at least on Wifi for a while.

ossi1967 ( 2018-10-04 16:49:01 +0300 )edit
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I have serious issue with mobile connection recovery. Jolla support told me to reinstall Android and then sailfish. Don't know why, but there can be a problem with some simcards. Other users have same problems, so maybe you should search for this threads and have a look, before running into trouble when not having inserted SIM during initial Anroid startup.

SaimenSays ( 2018-10-04 19:09:31 +0300 )edit

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answered 2018-10-04 15:46:38 +0300

Cube gravatar image

updated 2018-10-05 17:28:18 +0300

 I think this step is to check your hardware only ... I didn't do it and I didn't get any troubles :> OS will be fully removed so ... If you have any problem with camera, call, you will have less problem with the guarante. You can check on this forum that even if SFOX is official on Xperia X, it is not so easy to use the guarantee as the OS change !

Once, the hardware is ok ... we can suppose you won't have any probleme with SFOS !
Now, about your sim, ask for the sim of a friend who have already android ... I am sure you will find one !
Hope it helps !

PS : After reading the whole thread ... please forget this answer ... It is really not the good one ....

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I'm delighted to say that I have Sailfish X installed and best I can tell -- out here in the country I cannot test cellular because there's no coverage here, so that will wait until I go to town -- everything seems to work just fine. Now I need to reproduce the things I did to make my Gemini look and act as I like. Thanks very much for the help! This is a great community.

depscribe ( 2018-10-05 00:55:15 +0300 )edit
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answered 2018-10-05 11:39:37 +0300

Spark gravatar image

updated 2018-10-05 23:37:25 +0300

Some people (including me) have or had issues with A) reconnecting to the cellular network after a network loss and/or B) being able to log into any roaming network in foreign countries. According to Jolla Zendesk this is an issue buried deep in the phone's core (sorry, I'm not an expert) and not simply solvable with a patch. The only working solution so far is a revert to Android followed by a usage of the cell network on Android (making/receiving couple of calls, browsing, etc.) and the reflashing Sailfish. As the description on Zendesk has the same wording as the quote in the author's question, I guess this might be the reason.

edit: The mentioned "Important" advice was not given a while ago for the installation. So it seems Jolla edited it as kind of a preventive measure.

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Thanks for your complete answer ... I was a lucky boy ... I didn't get all theses problems ...

Cube ( 2018-10-05 12:08:39 +0300 )edit
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answered 2018-10-05 08:49:21 +0300

attah gravatar image

Why gamble? I have the distinct impression the specific update you are advised to install updates the modem firmware to a more stable version. AFAIK Jolla are not allowed to distribute modem fw upgrades for these devices. For this purpose a sim should not be needed, but some sort of internet connection obviously is. Testing that a device works before you void (parts of?) the warranty is still a good idea though.

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answered 2018-10-05 22:01:24 +0300

depscribe gravatar image

Okay. Turns out that at least for my purposes the first answer given was accurate.

Having installed Sailfish X on my Xperia X, I went to town, where there is cellular service, and for the first time installed the SIM card (T-Mobile, if it matters). Everything works just fine -- voice, data, the works.

At no time before then was there a SIM card in the device.

So apparently there is no requirement that anything get registered under Android ahead of time, or anything of the kind. The strong suggestion that a device be used with Android before flashing Sailfish, it seems, is so if the phone is faulty, warranty service can be obtained, which Sony will not provide post-flash.

But based on my experience, it is not necessary for SFOS to function properly.

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answered 2018-10-05 23:45:20 +0300

neo75 gravatar image

Do it, as Jolla is recomending. Please read this: https://together.jolla.com/question/177397/xperia-x-roaming-does-not-show-local-operator-and-does-not-show-connection/

I have not done that, and I have big problems with roaming, and I am not alone in the community. I am thinking, that I will reflash Android back, make some calls, and flashing back Sailfish, otherwise, it seems I cannot get rid of not working roaming at all.

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answered 2018-10-05 09:29:42 +0300

LordRooster gravatar image

This step is needed to register your sim-card. If you skip it, you will not be able to use your phone.

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Why did you say that ? I did this one year ago ... maybe my rememberings are wrong but I pretty sure not use my SIM card on Android ... Register the sim card on what ? The frmware does not need to know the sim card ... your answer is very curious ... and not very clear. Can you say more ? Moreother, imagine if we need to install back Android to change our SIM card ... It won't be fun !!:>

Cube ( 2018-10-05 10:47:43 +0300 )edit

I said that, because this is fact and decribed in several posts and articles. And yes: If you switch your network provider, you have to reflash. This is why the manual says: "IMPORTANT – Do not skip this step

Use your Xperia X some time with Android OS. Check that phone calls can be made and received, that you can browse the Internet with a mobile data connection (turn WLAN off) and that the camera works. You might also want to check the touch display, loudspeaker and microphone.. Use the same SIM card as will be used with Sailfish X." You can find more information on how to reflash android and then Sailfish here https://together.jolla.com/question/182023/how-to-install-back-android-on-xperia/

LordRooster ( 2018-10-05 15:03:25 +0300 )edit

Maybe, it is why I don't have any problem ... I was enforced to go back to android (and so I wrote this How To :)) and so use my SIM card with android ...So forget my answer and follow the recommendation :(

Cube ( 2018-10-05 17:26:20 +0300 )edit
  1. you get in trouble with Xperia and SFOS
  2. you flashing back to Druid
  3. testing your device with your SIM card
  4. seems OK and you try SFOS again
  5. yeah, all things you need working well now!!

But, where is the mistake? Playing around with Druid and SIM (to configure the phone - magic ?!), or flashing without mistakes again?

I believe, better use high quality cables.

4carlos ( 2018-10-06 15:53:42 +0300 )edit
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Asked: 2018-10-04 15:34:11 +0300

Seen: 1,119 times

Last updated: Oct 05 '18